Method and apparatus for oral hygiene products with green tea extract

Abstract

Oral hygiene products including chewing gum, toothpicks, mouthwash, and dentifrice strips are adapted to deliver active ingredients including green tea extract to the mouth of a consumer. A method including mixing one or more base components with green tea extract (GTE) to form a composition or treatment that is used to form the oral hygiene products.

1 . A method comprising: 
 forming a toothpick from a base material;    saturating the toothpick with a liquid composition including a green tea extract.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the base material is one of an orangewood, birchwood, and basswood.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid composition further comprises one of a vitamin and a mineral.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the green tea extract is a natural green tea extract.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 mixing one or more natural sweeteners with the liquid composition.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the natural sweetener is stevia extract.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the liquid composition further comprises a greater than 0.01 percent by weight of a natural flavorant.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the natural flavorant is one of anise oil, peppermint oil, birch, and mint.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the liquid composition and the toothpick exclude artificial substances.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the green tea extract is approximately 2.5 percent by dry weight of a natural green tea extract.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the liquid composition and the toothpick are entirely formed of all natural ingredients.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein saturating comprises saturating the toothpick with up to 75% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         13 . A toothpick produced according to the method of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         14 . A method of delivering an anti-cavity and anti-inflammatory ingredient by introducing the toothpick of  claim 1  into an oral cavity.  
     
     
         15 . A toothpick comprising: 
 a toothpick of wood saturated with a composition including green tea extract.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the green tea extract is a natural green tea extract.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 mixing one or more natural sweeteners with the liquid composition.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the natural sweetener is stevia extract.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the liquid composition further comprises a greater than 0.01 percent by weight of a natural flavorant.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the liquid composition and the toothpick exclude artificial substances.